Lauderdale mayoral election on ballot Tuesday

Quiet election races go to Fort Lauderdale voters on Tuesday. Mayor's race is on the ballot.

FORT LAUDERDALE — Attention city voters: There's an election today.

Three candidates are running for mayor and three for District 3 commissioner.

Maybe you haven't noticed, as there have been no debates or organized candidate forums, not even by the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce or the Council of Fort Lauderdale Civic Associations.

"There was just no groundswell of enthusiasm for one," said Marilyn Mammano, president of the civic council.

And while there are plenty of campaign posters in District 3, there are few signs cluttering up the rest of the city.

All city voters can vote for mayor in the race featuring incumbent Jack Seiler, who is seeking a third and final term, tile-store owner Earl Rynerson and bartender Chris Brennan.

In District 3, which covers many of the city's historically black neighborhoods, voters will also select a commissioner. Their choices are Commissioner Robert McKinzie, a contractor; Donna Guthrie, president of the Melrose Park Civic Association; and Didier Ortiz, who has been active in protests opposing the city's homeless laws and police brutality.

McKinzie was appointed in November to replace former Commissioner Bobby DuBose, who is now a state representative.

Voters won't have the weather to blame for not casting a ballot on Tuesday. The National Weather Service is predicting mostly sunny skies and only a 20 percent chance of rain, with high temperatures in the low 70s. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Absentee ballots can be returned to the Broward Supervisor of Elections Office up until 7 p.m. Tuesday, either at its downtown location, 115 S. Andrews Ave., or its Lauderhill center, 1501 NW 40th Ave. A voter with an unreturned absentee ballot also has the option of just going to their regular precinct to vote.

The city is the only one in the county that continues to hold a separate primary if more than two candidates run for any office. Tuesday's election will cost the city $290,860, according to the Broward elections supervisor.

If no candidate gets more than 50 percent of the vote in one or both of the races, a run-off between the top two finishers in those races would be March 10. Also, District 2 voters will decide their City Commission race between Commissioner Dean Trantalis and David Tabb on March 10.

There is a temporary polling place change Tuesday for Precinct R022. It has been moved from the Church of the Intercession to the Warfield Park Recreation Center, 1000 N. Andrews Ave.